Chaka Khan Checks Into Rehab For Pain Killer Addiction

On Saturday, just two days before she was set to perform at the California State Fair, Chaka Khan cancelled her performance. The 10-time Grammy Award winning singer announced that she will be entering rehab for drug addiction.

As reported by The Sacramento Bee, fair officials received a message from Khan’s representative, stating that the singer was entering into an addiction rehabilitation and aftercare program for addiction to prescription pain medication, said Sabrina Rodriguez, a Cal Expo spokesman.

The 63-year-old’s addiction to drugs has been an issue for decades, having used cocaine, heroin, and excessive alcohol during the 1970s and 80s. The singer was said be sober of alcohol and hard drugs in 2005 —after seeking professional help, but relapsed in the 2000s from prescription drugs.

“The battle of addiction is a serious and long process, which is why I chose to address my use of prescription medications—which came about as a result of the knee surgery I had a few years ago,” Khan said in a 2013 statement after exiting treatment for the same issue.

Adding, “When and if necessary, I will seek alternative methods and traditional treatment to stay ahead of any potential problem. So many are not here today, and have lost this battle with addiction. Because these medications are legal, their abuse is often unknown—until it’s too late. If not handled they are a silent killer.”

What stands out so much about this recent rehabilitation, is that is comes a few months after Khan’s close friend Prince, died of a prescription drug overdose. Quietly kept in both cases, the two seem to have something deadly in common.

We wish the best for Khan’s full recovery and know she’ll be back on top, once she’s free of addiction.